By TCN News,
Jaipur: A joint delegation of leaders of prominent Muslim organizations of Rajasthan under the banner of Rajasthan Muslim Forum (RMF) recently visited Gopalgarh again after nine months of the tragic massacre of 10 Muslims in a joint operation by police and the rioters. RMF leaders made the visit following the continuous request of the families of the victims complaining the ‘prejudiced’ role of CBI and the state government.
The delegation included Muhammad Salim Engineer, National Secretary of Jamaat-e- Islami Hind, Professor M. Hasan, president IRADA society, Engineer Khursheed Hussain, state president, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Rajasthan, and other members of forum Mohammad Alam Khan and Mohammad Nazimuddin. The delegation met the families of victims and the social activists of the area working for the justice to the victims. The situation after nine months was reviewed, the views were taken about the progress of the CBI enquiry and the role of the government and the administration was reviewed to assure justice to the victims and rehabilitation and compensation to the affected families.
In the September 2011 riots in Gopalgarh, 10 persons were killed, houses and the shops of the Muslim community in the town were looted, damaged and some of them set afire. All the 10 persons died and about 30 badly injured were all Muslims refuting the claim of the police that they fired 219 rounds to contain the direct clash between the mobs of Muslims and Gujjars. All the bullets were targeted towards the Jama Masjid of Gopalgarh, where the Muslims were offering ‘Asr’ Namaz.
After returning to Jaipur, RMF gave the following observations:
1. The investigation of CBI is not fair. It seems that the highest investigating agency is working under influence of the state government. The victims are losing hope of justice because of prejudiced behavior of the CBI and the state government. The state government does not seem to be serious to deliver justice to the victims and penalize the criminals and responsible police officers.
2. The victims and their families are highly shocked and scared because the then District collector Mr. Krishna Kunal and SP Mr. Hinglajdan have been given clean chit by CBI, and CAT has quashed their suspension orders and the state government has reinstated them. It seems that the state government has intentionally left loopholes in making case against the Collector and SP by not ordering enquiry against the officers while suspending them, finding prima facie guilty of serious negligence in discharging their duties. It is also surprising and raising apprehensions that not a single policeman has been found guilty by CBI till now. While it is evident that at least 219 rounds of bullets were fired, 10 persons all from Muslim community died, after the firing at about 6.00 PM on September 14, 2011. For about 24 hours after the incident either only the police or the police and the rioters both were present in the area of incidence, the curfew was there, and during this period only the bodies were dragged out and thrown into wells, some bodies cut into pieces and burnt. Who could have done this, either the police itself or the police and the rioters in cooperation. How it is possible that the agency like CBI could not see these simple facts?
3. The CBI has investigated only 5 FIRs file by the police station incharge, who themselves in our opinion are guilty. The other 14 FIRs filed by the victims, in which names of rioters, collector and SP and other police persons have been clearly mentioned, as accused have not been considered till now by taking pretext of technical reasons.
4. The victims and their close relatives are being terrorized because their names have been included in first 5 FIRs filed by police, and because of this fear they are not comimg forward for their statements against the criminals.
5. Almost all the Muslim families vacated the town after the incidence for about a week, their houses and shops were completely looted, damaged and some were put to fire, though there was curfew in the town during this period. Who did it? Either the police, or the fearless rioters, in presence and cooperation of the police. While the total damages may be at least 2 crores, the district administration offered them 3 to 4 thousand rupees each which they refused to take calling it humiliating. Our delegation was offered lunch by one of the victims’ families i.e. the family of Mr. Abdul Ghani in Gopalgarh, later on it was disclosed to us that the utensils they used were borrowed from the neighbours. This is the situation of the victims after 9 months. Mr. Abdul Ghani the president of Jama Masjid committee and his three sons are in judicial custody till now.
Demands of RMF:
1. The CBI should investigate the case without any prejudice and pressure from the state government.
2. The 14 FIRs should also be investigated.
3. A fearless atmosphere should be created so that victims can come out and get their statements recorded without any fear.
4. The district collector and the SP should be suspended, arrested so that a fair enquiry may be carried out against them.
5. The government should act seriously to deliver justice to the victims and it should not try to protect collector, SP and other guilty officers.
6. The victim families whose houses and shops have been looted and damaged and set afire, an independent survey should be carried out again and they should be completely compensated and rehabilitated at the earliest.